Welcome to Year 3

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Year 3. It has, so far, been a pleasure to have your child in my class. They are really starting to settle into the Juniors and are learning new routines both in and outside of the classroom. Below you will find an outline of the areas of study that we will be working on throughout the year.

ENGLISH

The children will read from a wide variety of fiction, poetry and non-fiction texts where they will develop their comprehension and writing skills in a wide variety of ways.

Children will take part in weekly, small group guided reading sessions with the main focus being comprehension and understanding of what has been read, these activities will be repeated as part of your child’s homework.

We also have a class library with a range of books that they may borrow whenever they choose to read in class.

MATHS

We follow the Abacas Evolve Scheme as a basis for our Maths work, which is written in line with the National Curriculum. The children should be confident in their number bonds to 20 and numbers to 1000. We look at larger numbers and 3, 4, 6 and 8 times tables which all children should know on leaving Year 3. We encourage the pupils to talk about their methods and learn mental strategies as well as the formal methods of computation. We expect them to be able to investigate and use their maths in everyday situations.

HOMEWORK

Our homework policy states that children should be completing one and a half hours of homework per week. The above reading practice is a very important part of the Year 3 homework, we suggest that children continue to read to an adult for 10-15 minutes at least 5 times per week. Please be aware that we monitor your child’s comprehension (understanding) of what they have read, not just that they are reading the words on the page.

The children will also have spelling activities each week, which will be tested on Fridays.

Maths work will also be sent home to reinforce learning in the classroom. Homework will be sent home on Fridays and need to be handed in by the following Thursday.

Your child will start times tables tests on Fridays, we start on 2’s, 10’s and 5’s which are the times tables children should know by the end of Year 2. They will then move onto their 3’s, 4’s, 6’s and 8’s which are the times tables children should know by the end of Year 3. As children learn these times tables they will be jumbled up to reinforce understanding and then they will move up through the times tables to their 12’s.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

The children follow the ‘Learning and Growing as the People of God’ Religious Education Strategy. The Catholic children will be making their First Holy Communion in the Summer term. Your involvement and support in the preparation for this very important sacrament is vital. We also encourage the non-Catholic children to become involved and they will follow the same programme of work. Our initial topic focuses on belonging and we will be learning about Baptism.

SWIMMING

During the autumn term, Year 3 will take part in swimming lessons. Our session is 9.30am on Tuesday morning and will begin on Tuesday 12 September 2017 until 5 December 2017 (inclusive). Please review the swimming letter for details on goggles and swimwear. This year we have been allocated 12 sessions instead of the normal 10. Swimming doesn’t normally start until around the 26 September. Sorry for any short notice and any inconvenience this may cause you.

PE AND GAMES

During the autumn term Swimming takes up half of the allocated P.E. time and we will be doing dance on Monday mornings where a dance specialist will teach the children for one hour per week. Year 3 complete the ‘Daily Mile’ each day (weather permitting).

In the spring and summer terms, PE/games will replace swimming and dance and will take place on Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons. The games session on Thursday afternoon takes place outside on the yard or the field as appropriate. The games kit for boys and girls consists of the new blue and yellow sweatshirt top, blue jogging bottoms, blue football socks (as shown on the school website) and trainers. The children may take their games kit home each week for washing. PE kits should be kept in school and taken home at half term. It is useful if trainers are kept in school daily, as they are needed for our ‘Daily Mile’, which takes place each day during Year 3 (weather permitting). The children will study dance, gymnastic and athletic activities in PE and a range of team games such as tag rugby, basketball, netball, cricket and football in Games.

SCIENCE AND TOPIC

The following list includes the main areas of topic and science that we will cover during the year. These will involve hands on experiments and participation where some areas will link to maths and topic and literacy work.

Amazing magnets (Science) First Holy Communion Preparation

Rocks and Fossils (Science) Pedestrian Road Safety

Animals (including humans) (Science) Stone Age to Iron Age (History)

Light and Shadows (Science) Rivers, mountains and coasts (Geography)

Plants – Roots and shoots (Science)

For Topic the children will investigate the Stone Age to Iron Age (History) and Rivers, mountains and coasts (Geography). This will be taught through a variety of sources including visit days to give some hands on learning and understanding.

If you need to discuss any matters concerning your child, please contact Mrs Carter, to arrange an appointment.

Swimming lessons for Year 3 will take place on Tuesday morning commencing 12 September. The children will travel to the pool by coach leaving at 9am prompt each Tuesday. Lessons will run from 12 September until 5 December 2017 (inclusive).

Could you please ensure that all items of uniform and swimming kit are clearly labelled with your child’s name.

Please take note of the following guidelines provided by Staffordshire Schools’ Swimming Service.

SWIMMING HATS: Any child with long hair (hair which when wet will come in front of the eyes, nose or mouth) must wear a swimming hat.

SWIM WEAR: This should be a one piece costume for the girls and the traditional trunks for the boys. The Bermuda-type shorts and the long cycling shorts are not recommended for swimming lessons – even though many shops sell them. The really loose fitting trunks can be dangerous and impede the swimmer.

GOGGLES: Swimming goggles, if worn or used incorrectly, have been known to cause injury to the wearer and to other swimmers. Whilst the Swimming Instructor will take every possible care, no guarantee can be given that the goggles will not cause injury to the pupil. Where goggles are needed because of genuinely sensitive eyes, the following consent form must be completed and returned to school

I understand the problems which may be caused by my child wearing swimming goggles during school swimming lessons. I have explained these to my son/daughter and I give permission for him/her to wear goggles.

Please see the letter below to give you an idea of how the First Holy Communion preparations happen each year.

We appreciate your support and attendance at each of the Masses and the meetings, as an important part of your child's religious life within the church and the school.

These are last year's dates (2016) but the dates usually work around the similar weekends, close to where they fall in each new year. Please check here for an updated letter, which will also be sent home to you via Parentmail as soon as they are decided.